Calculating-yardstick.



H. J. WEIERHAUSER. OALQULATING YARDSTIOK.

APPLICATION FILE D MAY 12'.- 1M0,

Patentd Mar. 14; 1911..

2 S EETS-SHEET 1" 313mm l'oa H. J. WEKERHAUSER.

CALCULATING YARDSTIGKQ APPLIUATION 1111211111111 12,1910.

Patented'Mar. 11, 1911.

v 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

wmm v 7 Z if UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. WEIERHAUSER, 01* SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, Assmnon or onltfisti 'ro ALFRED CLIFTON MoDANIEL AND ONE-HAL! TO WASHINGTON PATRICK mining;

or SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

CALCULATING-YARDSTICK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.- 14, 1911.

Application filed May 12, 1910. Serial No. seqero' at an Antonio, in the county of 'Bexar and State of Texas, have invented anew and useful Culculating-Yardstick, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to calculating yardsticks of that t pe shown, forexaniple, in the patent to l raeger, No. 630,005, dated August 1, 1899.

One of the objects of the present invention is to simplify-and otherwise improve upon the construction of said patented device and to improve upon and to provide a chart mounted upon two spools, there being mechanism -whereby motion may be positively transmitted from a single actuating element to either of said spools, according to the direction in which the chart is to be moved.

A still further .object is to provide im proved means whereby the spools can be brought to a stop automatically during the unwinding of the end portions of the chart,

the said stop .devices-thus serving to pre vent the chart from becoming torn from the spools.

Another object is to provide an im roved form of casing and support therefor,t c saidcasing being readily set up in its support and being dust proof so as to protect the chart.

A further oiiiect is to provide a register for use in connection with the chart whereby the number of yards measured upon the device can be counted.

A further object is to r provide an i'm proved chart whereby thecost of different cloths of any number of yizrds from one to thirty-s x,' 'at any given price per yard shown on the chart, and the cost 'of different cloths of every inch from one to thirtysiix', inclusive, at any given price per yard ,o] trun'nions, disks, annular grooves, springs rand other med an-ism, to keep the chart taut, end toy-make 1twind tightly, evenly, and

uniformly onto and from ofi' the 1 spools,

and. to make the chart revoluble so that the.

longitudinal column of numerals on the chart, indicating price per yard, and the cost of every inch from one to thirty-six, lnclusive at that price per yard, and of every yard from one to thirty six, at that price per yard, and of every fraction of a yard at the same price per yard, will aline perfectly and simultaneously within or through the slot opening in the top plate of the casing. I

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel --details" of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the pre-. ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a calculating yard stick bodying the present improvements andgin vent-ions, the same being shown mounted its holder and the middle portion of the holder and yard stick being removed. Fig. '2 is avieiv partly in top plan and partly in sectiongof the/yard stick. Fig. 3-. is an enlarged section on line A-B, Fig. 2. Fig. sis an enlarged section on line CD Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line E'F Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line G-H Fig. 2. Fig. 7 isa section through the shaft of the actuating wheel and showing, in elevation, modified means for stopping the rotation of said mechanism. Fig. 8 is a section on line I-K Fi 7 Fig. 9 is-a detail View of a portion of he chart.

Referring to the figures. by characters of reference 1 designates an L shaped strip of sheet metal or the like constituting the. bottom and bdek wall of the chart casing, there bein an outstanding longitudinally extend ing ange 2 along the upper edge of the wall portion of said strip. This plate is secured at one end to the back and bottom of a i upon the flan e 2.. and extends. parallel the bottomv o the plate 1,"on'e' longitudina edge of this plate being depressed orcrimpe as shown at 6 and located to one side of th longitudinal center of the bottom of plate 1.-

Another L shaped plate 7 is detachably secured to the front and top edges of the head block 4 and to the front and top faces of the casing 3, the top ortion of this plate being extended in the lrection of the top plate 5 and having its longitudinal edge depressed 'or crimpe as shown at 9 so as to cooperate with the depressed portion 6 to form a seat for a strip of celluloid, mica, or other transparent material such as indicated at 10, this strip being designed to close the slot 11 formed between the adjoining edges of the depressed portions 6 and 9, A longitudinal flange 12 is formed along the bottom of the plate 7 and extends under and is secured to,

the bottom portion of the plate 1. It will thus be seen that When the plates 1, 5, and 7 are assembled with the head block 4 and the casing 3, an elongated casing having a longitudinal slot 11 in the top thereof is formed.

A supporting strip 13 is located directly under and close to the slot 11, the upper face of this strip being transversely convex and the said strip being supported at its ends upon lugs 14 projecting from the head block 4 and the casing 3. The strip may be upheld at intermediate points by posts 15 extending upwardly from the bottom of the plate 1.

Parallel spools l6 and 17 are located within the casing formed by plates 1 and 7 and at opposite sides of and slightly below the supporting strips 13, the trunnions 18 and 19 of the said spools being journaled Within the head block 4 While the trunnions 20 and 21 thereof are journaled within the casing 3. Each of the trunnions 18 and 19 has adisk 22. secured to it and provided, upon its periphery, with a spiral rib or thread 23 terminating at each end in an abrupt shoulder 24; Each of the threads engages the teethof a gear 25 journaled upon a bracket- 26 which is secured to the head block 4, one of the teeth of each gear being of greater width than the remaining teeth, as shown at 27, so that when the gear 25 has completed one revolution, the shoulder 24 will come into contactwith the broad tooth -27 and thus prevent the thread 23, disl 22-:1nd the spool to .which it is connected from rotating =anyfurther in that directio it will be seen that by properly proport-io m the gear 925 and the thread 23, any

predetermined numbenfof revolutions of the spool canbe hadbefore the spool is br ght to a stop in the manner described Eachof the trunnions 20 and 21 is pro- ..vided-Lwith 'a disk 28 in which is formed an annular groove. 29. The bowed end portion ="-30-ofs-a spring 31 is normally seated within eachofthese grooves, the lower ends of the springs being secured to-lugs 32 extending from the casing 3.- Itwill be apparent thereforethat these springs constantlybear formed in the top of the casing and are adapte against the surfaces of the. grooves with suflicient pressure to prevent the s ools and chart from rotating too freely ant to keep the chart taut on the spools.

A gear 33 is secured to the trunnion 20 and another similar gear 34 is secured to the trunnion 21. These gears do not mesh but are disposed at opposite sides of a shiftiug gear 35 carried by a rocking plate 36. This plate 36 is pivotally supported upon a bracket 37 carried by the casing 3, the shaft 38 on which the plate 36 is mounted, being provided ,with a gear 39 which constantly meshes with the gear 35. Stop ears 40 extend laterally from the plate 36 and stop pins 41 are arranged in the path thereof, these pins being extended from the casing 3. A beveled gear 42 is'secured to the shaft 38 and is located within the casing 3, this gear meshing with a smaller gear 43 which is keyed or otherwise secured to an actuating shaft 44. Said-shaft extends transversely of the casing 3 and beyond the front face thereof, there being a hand Wheel 45 or any other suitable means whereby the shaft can be readily mani ulated.

A hollow dia 16 is mounted for rotation within the casing 3, and has acoiled spring 47 housed therein, the said spring being so connected and mounted as to hold the dial.

normally in a predetermined position, there being a projecting ear 48 upon the dial which normally contacts with a stoppin 49 extending from the casing 3. Numerals or other indicating data may be arranged in proper succession upon the periphery of theto apwithin an opening 50 3. Ratchet teeth 51 are forcpaed on one faceof the dial to be successively engaged by a spring pressed pawl 52 which is pivotally mounted within an opening 53 'formed in the top of the casing 3. This pawl serves dial, said characters being designe pear successively to hold the dial against-10mm movement,

after it has been rotated a predetermined distance against-the stress of'thespri'ng 47 therein. A guide casingba extends downwardlv into the casing from an opening 55 in tho up thereof and has a button 56 slidably nioiurted: therein and normally supporh d by a spring 57 located in the bottom portion of the casing 54:. A dog 58 is pivotally mounted within the bottom andprojects through a slot in the casing 54, said dog being spring-pressed as indicated at 60 and normally engaging one of the teeth of the ratchet 51. It .Will be apparenttherefore that when thebut-ton 56 is depressed, the. dog i) 58 carried thereby will partly rotate the dial 46 and thus cause another character to ap pear within the opening 50. After the dial has been rotated in this manner, itcan bere: turned to its, normal position by pressing downwardly on thepaw '52 so-as te" release .3 and upon the A .cungitudinally slotted top plate 61 is secured upon the head block 4 and the casin plates 5 and 7, the slot 11 an 62 in this late 61 registering together and being pre' erably one yard long. .Graduatio'i'is, representing a standard gage rule thirty-six inches long, areformed, along one ed'e' of this slot 62, in said plate 61 so as to in icate' inches and fractions of inches from one to 'thirt -six, inclusive, as shown at 7 2,

and'alongtneother edge of said'slot 62 in said plate 61 so as to ndicate fractions of the yardas' indicated at 7 3.

The chart 63' used in connection with the mechanism herein described consists of a j str'ipofpaper, fabric, or the like, the width of which isthe same as the length of the slot 62', reieraulysulirty-six inches'long, said' strip,',or chart,havingbeen indicated at 63.

The ends'of this strip are secured in any trvals of one allietlines drawn across the chart from side apart suitable manner to the two spools 16 and'1 7 and that faceof the strip which is exposed ,t-hiou'gh the' slot 11 and 62 is provided with perpendicular", parallehlines running from is chart 63', and drawnat ininch apart, except thatthe first marginal inch space'on either sideof the'chart 63 is again divided so as to form a space'brcolumnan theextreme margin of 63, for the prices at which the 'goods'or materials are to'be sold and compiitied. The chart 63 also has similarparto' side', at regular'interva'ls, but any distance on the left of the perpendicular lines, are shown, on the-extreme margins at 74, the prices per yard at which the goods or materials are to be sold and computed,-and 'at 75, on the left. of the shown the cost of any given 1 number of inches, from one to thirty'-six, at the given pricp per yard shown in 'that'longitudinal column at- 74, and at 76 on the right of the perpendicular lines, are shown the numerals indicating cost of any given number of yards at-the-marginal price per yard shown in that particular longitudinal column at 7 and similarly are shown the cost of frac tional parts of theyard by one eighth, one

that may be desired, and in the par'-' alle'lograms thus formedby the crossing of perpendicular lines, are

numerals indicatin the cost of a fractional part of a yard, at that same price per yard,

are so arranged on the chart 63, that all of those numerals indicating cost of inches, yards, and fractions of the yard, at a given price per yard, that are included in one longitudinal column will appear, simultaneously, within the slot 11 and 62. And the chart (53' is so adjusted and attached to the spools 16 and 17 that the perpendicular lines thereon, drawn at parallel intervals of one inch apart, will register exactly under the perpendicular lines on the measuring rule 72, indicating inch measurements, as the same are represented and indicated on the top plate 61. And the cost of a required number of inches, at a given price per yard, is indicated by those numerals immediately to the left of that particular perpendicular line which indicates the number of inches required, and, similarly, the cost of a required number of yards, at a given price per yard, is indicated by those numerals immediately to the right of that particular perpendicular line which indicates the number of yards required, and similarly are shown the cost of designed to be seated along the inneredge of the top of a store counter, or the like, and should it be ddsir'ed to mount it upon the upper edge or portion of a glass showcase,

The device Whichhas been described is a holding-plate, suqh as has been shown at 64, may be prhvided, this to accurately the show case flanges 65 on. may rest.

plate being shaped and having inwardly directed The inner longitudinal edge of this supporting plate may be depressed as shown at so so as to constitute a seat for one edge portion of the glass plate forming the top of the showcase. Should it be, desired to measure off two yards and a half of fabric to be sold at $4 a yard, the free end of the fabric is placed at the beginning; end of the graduated 36-inch measuring rule 72, and the fabric is then stretched. to the rightv along said measuring rule, its ent-ire'wlength of thirty-six inches, thus measuring one yard. The operator then presses 0n the button 56 and the numeral l will appear within the opening. 50, thereby indicating that one yard has been measured.- Another yard is then measured ofi in the same manner, and when the button 56 is again de- Which the measuring device fit the upper edge portion of pressd the numeral2 will appear in the I opening 50, thereby indicating. that two yards have been measured. An additional one half yard, or eighteen inches, is then similarly measured. Either before or after this measuring operation the chart can be shifted so as to bring into view in or hen eath the slot 62, the longitudinal column of figures or numerals relating to the cost of fabric sold at $4 per yard. By referring to the numerals immediately at the right oi. the perpem'licular line on the chart that registers with the perpendicular line on the measuring rule 72 which indicates the. two inch graduation, the cost of two yai -d.-=. ot' the fabric, selling at $4 per yard, will be disclosed, and immediately on the left of said.perpendicular line on the chart.- will be disclosed the numerals indicating the cost of two inches of fabric which sells at $4 per yard. The cost of the additional one half yard of fabric, selling at $4: per yard, is indicated by the nun' erals appearing immediately on the. left of the perpendieular line on the chart registering with the perpendicular line on the measuring rule which indicates the eighteen-inch graduation. These numerals, representing cost in inches, and located immediately at the left of the perpendicular lines which register with. the inch graduations on the measuring rule. are arranged in practically the same relatimi as those shown in the chartdisclosed in lat cut No. 566,867, issued to l). lraeger. on

September 1st, 1896, the only ('litleri-uce,

or other fractions of a yard.

with respectto the numerals indicat ingcost of inches, being that in the present (lo-tire and chart. the numerals, representing cost of inches, are placed in parallel. perpendicular, columns so as to appear adjacent to, and immediately to the left of. each of the inch graduations on the chart and on the measuring rule. This is done so as to facilitate the calculation of the cost of inches 'llhere are other differences between the. arrangement of the numerals on this chart indicating cost of yards and on thc'chart disclosed in the said Praeger Patent No. 566 SGT..'

It is believed that the operation of the chart actuating mechanism will he fully understood from the foregoing tit-seripi'i-on- When the wheel, or other aetuatiire device indicated at 45, is rotated in one direction, its shaft 4.4 causes gear 43 to rotate re 1r +23 and the gear 38 is thus revoli'ed, the gear 39 rotating with it. Said gear 39 is constantly in mesh. with the gear 35 and therefore swings said gear in one direction so as to engage one of the gears 33 and 34, according to the direction in which the wheel, or other actuating device, indicated at is rotated. This swinging movement of gear .35is of course permitted by the swinging plate 36. Motion will of course be transmitted through gear 35 to the gear 3:2 or 34 meshing; with it and thi. driven it w l l i l l I. i I

spool will thus be prevented.

wind the. chart upon the spool connected to it, while the said chart will be unwound from the other spool. The rotation of the free spool will be retarded to a slight ex tent by the pressure of the. spring 31, which pressure is also intended to keep the chart taut and to make it wind evenly, and to prevent it winding loose onto the spools. After the spools have rotated a sutlicient number of times to unwind practically all of the chart,the shoulder formed by the end oi each worm 23 will come into contact With. the ln-mid tooth 27 of the gear 25 meshing with the worm and further rotation of each Obviously this will prevent the. chart tron'i being torn oil of the Spools. Reverse chart and obtain similar results.

Instead of providing stop mechanisn'i at the far end of each of the spools and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, one stop device may be located Within the easing This stop device consists of a disk 37 secured to the shaft -tt and having a spiral thread 68 thereon tern'linat-ing in an abrupt shoulder (59. -This thread meshes or engages with the teeth on a disk or gear mounted for rotation within the :asing 3, one of the teeth on said gear being; broader than the others, as shown at Tl so that after the gear '70 has made a. complete rotation, the shoulder 9 will move against the tooth T1 and thus hold the mechanisn'i against further rotation in the same direction.

heretofore pointed out, after a nunr her of yards have been indicated by depressing the button 56 and causing" the dial :46 to revolve, the said dial can be reset simply by depressing? the dog 52 so as to rel -ase the dial and permit its spring, weight, or other device, t? to swing it back to its initial position.

It is to be understood of course that vari- 011s changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of too parts without departing from the. spirit or sacrificing ary of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed isz 1. A device of the class described including a housing, parallel spools mounted for rotation therein, a chart connecting and adapted to be wound upon the spools, there being a slot within the housing through which the chart is visible, non-meshing gears carried by the respective spools, a swinging,

gear interposed there-between, revoluble ac;

tuatingr means having fixed bearings, and mechanism operated by the rotation of said means for first shifting the movable gear into mesh with either of the gears ofthe spools and then rotating said movable gear.j.-

2. A device of the class described ineludr ing parallel spools, a, chart connecting and.

adapted to he wound upon the spools,non

meshing gears carried by the spools, a gear mounted for Swinging movement between the gears on the spools, a revoluble actuating device having fixed bearings, and means operated by therotation of said device for first swinging the said movable gear into mesh with either of the spool gears and for then transniitting motion f10111 '[l18 actuat ing device through said swinging gear to the spool gear meshing therewith. g

3. A device of the class described includ ing spools, a chart secured to and adapted to be wound upon the spools, a revoluble ac tuating device having fixed bearings, means "operated by'the revoluble actuating means for selecting and rotating either {if the spools.

LA. device of the class described including spools, a chart secured to and adapted to be wound upon the spools, resilient means for retarding the rotation 01": the spools and to keep the chart taut and-to makethe chart wind evenly anclnniforinly onto the spools,

' in' s 0015: achart secured to and ads. ted

gear secured to the shaft, a swinging gear 'a revoluble a'ctuating device havil ig a fixed bearing, gears connected to the respective spools, and means operated by the revoiuhle actuating device for successively selecting and rotating either of the gears, v

5. A device of the class d scribed h led-- ing spools, a chart secured to and a ted to be wound upon the spools, a se "Ll. to each spool, a shaft having fixed bearin a plate loosely mounted upon the shaft,

fulcrumed upon and movable with the plate, and means for rotating the shaft in one direction to first swing the plate to bring the swinging gear into mesh with either ofthc gears on the spools and to then rotate the gears. 4

'6. A device of the class described includto' be Wound upon the spools, an actuating device means 0 erated ihcreb for select.

v p y ing and rotating either of the spools, a

threaded element revoluble in unison Withthe spools. the slice-ad upon said element having a shoulder at one terminal thereof,

and a gear engaged the thread, said -1nclud1ng a tooth constituting an abutiner for the-shoulder.

7. A device of the class described includingiopposed detachahiv connected angular plates constituting acasing, a top plate co operating With oi; the first mentioned tween the plates atone end hereof,

tachably mounted upon said a c:

plates to constitute the top of theorising, there being a longitudinal slot within said top, a transparent closure for slot, a. slotted graduated top plate upon the top of the casing, a head bloclr secured between the plstes at the thereof, spools gournaled between the block and end. casing and si'i'ounded by the plates, a chart secured to adapted io be Wound upon the spools and mechanism mounted upon and Within the end casing for actuating the spools.

8. The combination with a supportiiw plate having flanges extending thei'efr n and constituting ledges, of a structua art movably mounted Within said structure, there being a slot Within the s ructure through "which a portion of. the she I visi- 2'5 hie, an actuating heel supported he ond one face or" the structure, and mechanism opemled' by said wheels for relating :ie chart in either direction. i

9. A device of the class described includa housing, a chart nio-valiy mount ea; herein, said housing op 'ough which a poi-Lion of the c an operating dev' and extend stopping a chart. in. eith ea iug spools inounmd for rotation, nected to and adaptedto be the spools, non-meshing gears c by respective spools, a gear intesposed therebetween, revoluble ao'tuatihg means having fixed heat r gs, mesa ism operated by the rotation ofSenClmea-m "for shifting the movable rte i 1 with 1 oi? the rotating said movable i In. testimony shat c as my own i. as: v be ture in the pres. W

T. D. C one,

E. mess. 

